Re: Pilates for Dummies & cardio

[Guest guest]

Glad you are enjoying that combo! I think it works well together - Pilates does a bit of stretch and strength so really nice after cardio. And, it also has a somewhat "centering" effect since you have to focus on your movements and breathing patterns.

Take care!Donna

Subject: Pilates for Dummies & cardioTo: exercisevideos Date: Friday, September 30, 2011, 3:13 PM

Today was my last pilates day in this week's rotation and I did Pilates for Dummies, led by Dozois. As a relative newbie to pilates, I benefited from her excellent description of form and movement in the exercises. She did 18 of them, no more than 10 reps per exercise (many were less) and instructed for each one so there was some rest between them. This is an excellent workout for a beginner. I was familiar with most, but not all the exercises, but found she offered tips that helped my form on many. Alternate views showed her performing beginner and advanced modifications where necessary and I found that with almost all, I could do the advanced modifications comfortably, which was really great! I'm always concerned my core isn't nearly as strong as it could be because I don't like working it (because it is hard for me) but I keep seeing I'm stronger than I realize, despite taking most of the summer off from

deliberate core strengthening. I'm not sure if I'm keeping this one because I don't see myself pulling it out often because it does move so slowly and I got more of a challenge from Mari Winsor's stuff (but I like 's comfy, friendly style much better) and because it is on VHS and I want to make more room on my shelves. I'll probably put in the trade pile with a few second thoughts about it!

After I got done with that one (about 30 minutes), I wanted more so I put in WW Next Move (also ) and did the cardio workout off that. It is 20 minutes of moderate intensity, mostly low impact floor cardio that I've done many times but not in a while so it was good to revisit it. I felt good when I was done. I've decided I finally do like pilates and can now understand Donna's combining that and cardio so often. Today's workout felt really good. I think I would like to include pilates more regularly as I'm finally, after 3 works of deliberately scheduling time for core work, feeling like I'm making progress. I have more pilates virgin workouts to get through so I might include more in next week's rotation (which I still need to finish with soon).

[Guest guest]



I have a hard time focusing on the breathing while I'm trying to learn the movement pattern but then after I'm more comfortable with it I can do both at the same time and you're right, it does feel good!

Pilates for Dummies & cardioTo: exercisevideos Date: Friday, September 30, 2011, 3:13 PM

Today was my last pilates day in this week's rotation and I did Pilates for Dummies, led by Dozois. As a relative newbie to pilates, I benefited from her excellent description of form and movement in the exercises. She did 18 of them, no more than 10 reps per exercise (many were less) and instructed for each one so there was some rest between them. This is an excellent workout for a beginner. I was familiar with most, but not all the exercises, but found she offered tips that helped my form on many. Alternate views showed her performing beginner and advanced modifications where necessary and I found that with almost all, I could do the advanced modifications comfortably, which was really great! I'm always concerned my core isn't nearly as strong as it could be because I don't like working it (because it is hard for me) but I keep seeing I'm stronger than I realize, despite taking most of the summer off from deliberate core strengthening. I'm not sure if I'm keeping this one because I don't see myself pulling it out often because it does move so slowly and I got more of a challenge from Mari Winsor's stuff (but I like 's comfy, friendly style much better) and because it is on VHS and I want to make more room on my shelves. I'll probably put in the trade pile with a few second thoughts about it!

After I got done with that one (about 30 minutes), I wanted more so I put in WW Next Move (also ) and did the cardio workout off that. It is 20 minutes of moderate intensity, mostly low impact floor cardio that I've done many times but not in a while so it was good to revisit it. I felt good when I was done. I've decided I finally do like pilates and can now understand Donna's combining that and cardio so often. Today's workout felt really good. I think I would like to include pilates more regularly as I'm finally, after 3 works of deliberately scheduling time for core work, feeling like I'm making progress. I have more pilates virgin workouts to get through so I might include more in next week's rotation (which I still need to finish with soon).

[Guest guest]



I have a hard time focusing on the breathing while I'm trying to learn the movement pattern but then after I'm more comfortable with it I can do both at the same time and you're right, it does feel good!

Pilates for Dummies & cardioTo: exercisevideos Date: Friday, September 30, 2011, 3:13 PM

Today was my last pilates day in this week's rotation and I did Pilates for Dummies, led by Dozois. As a relative newbie to pilates, I benefited from her excellent description of form and movement in the exercises. She did 18 of them, no more than 10 reps per exercise (many were less) and instructed for each one so there was some rest between them. This is an excellent workout for a beginner. I was familiar with most, but not all the exercises, but found she offered tips that helped my form on many. Alternate views showed her performing beginner and advanced modifications where necessary and I found that with almost all, I could do the advanced modifications comfortably, which was really great! I'm always concerned my core isn't nearly as strong as it could be because I don't like working it (because it is hard for me) but I keep seeing I'm stronger than I realize, despite taking most of the summer off from deliberate core strengthening. I'm not sure if I'm keeping this one because I don't see myself pulling it out often because it does move so slowly and I got more of a challenge from Mari Winsor's stuff (but I like 's comfy, friendly style much better) and because it is on VHS and I want to make more room on my shelves. I'll probably put in the trade pile with a few second thoughts about it!

After I got done with that one (about 30 minutes), I wanted more so I put in WW Next Move (also ) and did the cardio workout off that. It is 20 minutes of moderate intensity, mostly low impact floor cardio that I've done many times but not in a while so it was good to revisit it. I felt good when I was done. I've decided I finally do like pilates and can now understand Donna's combining that and cardio so often. Today's workout felt really good. I think I would like to include pilates more regularly as I'm finally, after 3 works of deliberately scheduling time for core work, feeling like I'm making progress. I have more pilates virgin workouts to get through so I might include more in next week's rotation (which I still need to finish with soon).